Military may alter Reserves' missions

Indianapolis Star ^ | April 27, 2003 | By Dan McFeely

[68skylark]

CARMEL, Ind. -- As 90,000 to 120,000 National Guard and Reserve troops, including about 4,200 Hoosiers, prepare to come home from Iraq, Pentagon officials are looking into ways to shield them from repeated calls to duty in the future.

The key: rebalancing missions between active and reserve components of the U.S. military.

[68skylark]

I heard a radio interview with a top General for Reserve Affiars at the Pentagon about a month ago. He said they're thinking about a "guideline" for reserve troops that would tell them to expect about one 6-month call up every five years or so in the future. This would involve some re-structuring of our forces between active and reserve. Does anyone else know more about this topic? It's important to me -- thanks.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Marking this, hoping to see some more info, as well. :)

[BeAllYouCanBe]

My son is in the 1/293 Infantry that is a Fort Wayne infantry unit that is now deployed in Iraq. I believe that in a 6 year hitch yu could have be to Bosnia and Iraq.

My son was called up in November and they say that he will be home in July. That's an 8 month callup.

My son was a loan officer in a bank and works on commission and this will be a devistating financial event in his life. His wife and 18 month old daughter have had a tough time through this ordeal.

[68skylark]

All Hoosiers can be very proud of what the 1/293 and 1/152 Infantry are doing. The INARNG troops called to duty at Atterbury are also doing a superb (and mostly unsung) job.

Indiana has really been "stepping up" for this conflict. That comes from LOTS of hard work among the 76th Brigade folks (and the people at Atterbury) that goes back well before 9/11, to be ready to perform their missions now.

When you talk with you son, tell him the whole state and country is very proud of what he and his unit are doing.